The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections

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The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections (The Sandman #6)

by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author), Bryan Talbot (Illustrator), Stan Woch (Illustrator), P. Craig Russell (Illustrator), Shawn McManus (Illustrator), John Watkiss (Illustrator), Jill Thompson (Illustrator), Duncan Eagleson (Illustrator) , more…

4.46 of 5 stars 4.46 · rating details · 20,917 ratings · 365 reviews

Fables & Reflections (1993) is the sixth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. It was written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Bryan Talbot, Stan Woch, P. Craig Russell, Shawn McManus, John Watkiss, Jill Thompson, Duncan Eagleson, Kent Williams, Mark Buckingham, Vince Locke and Dick Giordano, coloured by Danny Vozzo and Lovern Kindzierski/Digital...more

Hardcover, 264 pages

Published March 10th 1999 by Vertigo (first published January 1st 1993)

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Jul 17, 2012 Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fables & Reflections was probably my least favorite Sandman volume so far. While I delighted in the single-issue stories in Dream Country, the ones contained in this one didn't thrill me as much. I lost my focus a few times and wished there weren't so many grouped together without a common theme. Dream Country, on the other hand, was the perfect taste of outside-the-plot mini tales.

The stories about Orpheus were the most interesting, being the most relevant to Dream, and I found myself wishi...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Ronyell rated it 4 of 5 stars

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After reading the fifth volume in Neil Gaiman’s fantastic “Sandman” series, “A Game of You,” I just had to read the sixth volume of the “Sandman” series called “Fables and Reflections.” In this volume, we are introduced to more miscellaneous stories that involve Morpheus and his siblings’ involvement with various characters’ dreams.

Just like the third volume of the “Sandman” series “Dream Country, “ “Fables and Reflections” is mainly a collection of different tales that detail the adventures tha...more

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Oct 28, 2012 StoryTellerShannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

THE SERIES

When introducing people to graphic novels (especially those who think they're just comic strip superheroes for kids with no depth) I point them in the direction of this beloved series. It chronicles the trials and tribulations of Dream, an Endless being who is something like an Old God who is superior to most known godly beings. He operates in many worlds most specifically Earth.

The Sandmanwas one of Vertigo's flagship titles, and is available as a series of tentrade paperbacks. It ha...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Airiz C rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gaimanic-disorder, fantasy, graphic-novel, mythology, paranormal, science-fiction, surreal, the-sandman-catalog

Fables and Reflections, like Dream Country, is comprised of stand-alone tales that explore the Sandman universe without directly zeroing in on the Endless themselves. There’s a lot to like here, but there are a few issues that I found a tad unsatisfying because some tales feel like they could use a sequel or something. Anyway, I guess that’s already given when it comes to compendiums—stories in them would never be of the same caliber.

I found the Vertigo preview about Todd Faber interesting. It’s...more Fables and Reflections, like Dream Country, is comprised of stand-alone tales that explore the Sandman universe without directly zeroing in on the Endless themselves. There’s a lot to like here, but there are a few issues that I found a tad unsatisfying because some tales feel like they could use a sequel or something. Anyway, I guess that’s already given when it comes to compendiums—stories in them would never be of the same caliber.

I found the Vertigo preview about Todd Faber interesting. It’s about facing your fears, and in this particular issue, it’s about the fear of failure. It’s very inspiring in a metaphorical way, and it’s not just for playwright or writers—it’s for everyone. It’s quite short compared to the other issues, but it’s crammed with meaning and purpose.

In the issue called “Three Septembers and a January”, we see the twins Despair and Desire playing a dangerous game against Morpheus, who takes the challenge of using ‘dreams to save someone from despair’. The mortal Joshua Norton is their subject, and Dream gives him madness for him to be redeemed. I think it’s a pretty nice story (with a bonus Death at the end!). We get to see more interactions between the main protagonist and the other Endless, and it gained a thumb up for me since in the previous issues the only things we know about Morpheus’ siblings were the info given away in Season of Mists. I didn't peg Despair to be type to play games. Go figure. This story sort of reminded me of Rose Walker's accusation about the Endless in the Doll's House--who are actually playing who? Judging about the twins' game and Morpheus' agreement to take part in it, well, I think I've made my own conclusion.

“Thermidor” is quite cool, with the historical background and all. Here the readers get reacquainted with Lady Johanna Constantine (John Constantine’s ancestor), and we meet Morpheus and Calliope’s son, Orpheus. “The Hunt” was all right and it can strike a chord with lots of teenagers that deal with their elders; other than that, it’s a typical story of expectations and reality not converging on the same plane, peppered with a bit of fantasy. Weirdly, I’m satisfied with “Soft Places,” or more precisely just with the alternative-historical idea of the whole tale, since the story itself is not that weighty. I liked the story “August”. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I know so little about Roman emperors. It sort of reminds me of the story of Siddharta Gautama, especially that his fate and the main protagonist’s have something to do with a dream. My favorite story would be “Sandman Special: Orpheus”, a retelling of the mythological tale of Orpheus and Eurydice—how he lost her, and how he lost his head. It’s tremendously fascinating and it’s also nice to see the seven Endless complete, this time with Destruction. The most gorgeous issue would be “Ramadan”, judging from the tasteful penciling of the illustrations as well as the letterings (all in Arabic style). It tells the story of yet another mortal’s bargain with the Dream Lord.

All in all this volume is a mixed bag,but I quite liked it for the most part.
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Aug 29, 2007 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

I used to stubbornly think that graphic novels had no intellectual merits other than for amateur entertainment (I know, pedestal). This series not only blew me away visually, but caused me to see graphic novels in a new light. Everyone should read this series.

Here's what i want to say, but someone else said it first and better than i could:
"Erudite, allusive, complex and ambitious, SANDMAN is undoubtedly the finest writing the mainstream comic book industry has ever seen. It dares to tell the st...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Deslni01 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, graphic, novel, comic, vertigo

Being the sixth volume in the Sandman series, Reflections and Fables takes a different twist than readers are accustomed to - a volume entirely of the past. There are nine stories in the volume, each relating to the Sandman universe in its own way, yet each remarkably different.[return][return]The opening chapter, Fear of Falling, really a prologue, is in itself wonderfully written and in only a few pages it packs a powerful message. Other notable chapters include Ramadan, Parliament of Rooks, T...more

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Jan 28, 2009 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fables and Reflections is another volume in the Sandman series that is a collection of short stories. Once again, Neil Gaiman displays his deft touch with some brilliant story-telling: Ramadan, Orpheus, and The Hunt are my favourites from this volume, although I do like most of the stories in this volume. While they are standalone stories, some do have linkages with previous and future volumes, which make it confusing for me at times because I feel that I'm not getting the full picture. There we...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Carina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reading-challenge, fantasy, graphic-novels

The previous volumes of The Sandman I read in very quick succession - however it has been a number of months since I read Volume 5. I think, although this is a collection of 'short' stories, that these graphic novels are best read close to one another. I know that I am missing some things because I cannot recall certain elements of the earlier ones - would recalling these things make this book more enjoyable - yes, but it can be read on its own.

As with all the other graphic novels, the artwork h...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Klytia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Il sesto volume della serie presenta ancora una raccolta di storie brevi dove incontriamo Joshua Norton, l’Imperatore degli Stati Uniti, un regista che deve decidere se volare o cadere, un lupo mannaro a caccia dei suoi sogni, Joanna Constantine in cerca del figlio di Sogno, Marco Polo, l’Imperatore Augusto, Harun al Rashid sovrano di Bagdad e molti altri.
Alcuni episodi meritano una particolare attenzione in quanto, a differenza degli altri, maggiormente legati alla storia principale narrata ne...more Il sesto volume della serie presenta ancora una raccolta di storie brevi dove incontriamo Joshua Norton, l’Imperatore degli Stati Uniti, un regista che deve decidere se volare o cadere, un lupo mannaro a caccia dei suoi sogni, Joanna Constantine in cerca del figlio di Sogno, Marco Polo, l’Imperatore Augusto, Harun al Rashid sovrano di Bagdad e molti altri.
Alcuni episodi meritano una particolare attenzione in quanto, a differenza degli altri, maggiormente legati alla storia principale narrata nella serie.
Se in Termidoro viene introdotto il personaggio di Orfeo, figlio di Sogno, è ne La Canzone di Orfeo che finalmente conosciamo il suo passato, la sua tragica storia d’amore con Euridice e la ragione del suo allontanamento dal padre.
Ne Il parlamento dei Corvi, il piccolo Daniel, figlio di Lyta Halls, conosciuta in Casa di Bambola, diventa ospite di una famiglia particolare che abita il Regno del Sogno, Caino e Abele e la loro madre Eva i quali raccontano al piccolo alcune storie. Abele narra del suo incontro con Sogno e Morte, una storia semplice e infantile che si sposa perfettamente con le immagini ispirate ai manga giapponesi per bambini disegnate da Jill Thompson.
Queste poche pagine influenzarono il futuro della disegnatrice la quale, successivamente, sceneggerà e illustrerà due fumetti della collana Sandman presenta intitolati Piccoli Eterni e Death: a casa di Death, quest’ultimo nuovamente in versione manga.
Con il racconto di Eva, in cui la donna racconta la sua versione della storia narrata nella Genesi, Gaiman riprende il mito ebraico di Lilith, la prima vera donna creata. Il racconto di Caino, che dà il titolo al tutto l’episodio, è invece oscuro e crudele, ma Daniel non assisterà al drammatico finale. Merita menzione anche l’episodio The Hunt, nel quale un nonno racconta alla nipote la favola di un giovane uomo “della Stirpe” che si innamora di una donna ritratta in una miniatura donatagli da una zingara. Tra i doni della zingara c’è anche un libro, rubato dalle mani di un bibliotecario preoccupato che il suo signore, Morfeo, non scopra l’incidente.

Gaiman si ispira alla tradizione russa nel raccontare questa storia tanto che Vassily nel suo viaggio incontro la Baba Yaga, la strega che abita in una “casetta sostenuta da zampe di gallina”. In questo episodio si trovano molti temi che saranno poi ripresi in Stardust — il desiderio, il sogno, il premio — e che Sogno riassume così: “i desideri a volte sono più gratificanti quando restano insoddisfatti”.

Commento estratto da "Nelle Terre del Sogno: Sandman", articolo scritto da me e altri tre fan di Gaiman per FantasyMagazine.
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Feb 20, 2012 John Kirk rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is another set of single issue stories, where some are better than others. When I first bought this book (unnumbered edition), I wasn't sure which order to read it in: some of the issues are before The Sandman, Vol. 5: A Game of You and another is after The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives. I settled on #6 for this one, which now seems to be the agreed sequence.

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Jun 11, 2011 Ryan Rebel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys a good story.

Recommended to Ryan by: Mr. K

Shelves: reviewed

This is the second time I've read this particular entry in the Sandman series, and it doesn't cease to amaze. It's no wonder an issue of Sandman won the World Fantasy Award (I believe that's what it was called) much to the chagrin of many purists who refused to accept graphic novels as a viable medium. The fact is, Sandman is scads better than almost all of the traditional books I have ever read.

This particular compilation is a must read, particularly for history lovers, particularly for those i...more

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Feb 10, 2011 Tancredi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel

- Sogni. Cosa sono i sogni? I sogni sono niente, fratello.
- I Sogni sono "niente", sorella? Senza sogni, non ci sarebbe Disperazione.

Sul volume in particolare:
Questo è un Gaiman particolarmente storico. Questo volume è una raccolta di episodi ambientanti in diverse epoche, dall'epoca del principato di Augusto alla rivoluzione francese. L'amore per la verità storica qui si unisce alla sua fantasia originalissima e alla sua indole scrutatrice dell'animo umano.

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Sulla serie in generale:
Parla...more - Sogni. Cosa sono i sogni? I sogni sono niente, fratello.
- I Sogni sono "niente", sorella? Senza sogni, non ci sarebbe Disperazione.

Sul volume in particolare:
Questo è un Gaiman particolarmente storico. Questo volume è una raccolta di episodi ambientanti in diverse epoche, dall'epoca del principato di Augusto alla rivoluzione francese. L'amore per la verità storica qui si unisce alla sua fantasia originalissima e alla sua indole scrutatrice dell'animo umano.

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Sulla serie in generale:
Parlare di "The Sandman" mi mette imbarazzo e non solo, perché di fronte ad un'opera mastodontica e superiore come questa non posso che sentirmi un mero ammasso di carne pensante per sbaglio, per una malata frizione casuale tra i miei neuroni.

La verità è che "The Sandman" è l'opera di un genio fuori dal comune, che non si può comprendere mai del tutto, nemmeno leggendolo mille volte. Per la profondità della sua scrittura, per la finezza dellle sue citazioni letterarie, per la cura paziente e poetica con cui ogni singola parola pausa e virgola viene scelta, per il modo oserei dire "chirurgico" con cui si intrufola nell'animo umano, mettendolo a nudo.
"The Sandman" è un'opera che sostanzialmente è una rappresentazione di ciò che siamo, una rappresentazione dell'essere umano, con tutte le sue pieghe, le sue contraddizioni e le zone nascoste, in ombra.
La finezza della sua analisi dell'uomo la si può vedere ad esempio nella creazione dei sette Eterni: Sogno, Morte, Destino, Distruzione, Disperazione, Desiderio, Delirio. Sette personificazioni di sette elementi che scuotono gli uomini, che ne plasmano la crescita.
Parlando della trama, che qui è veramente l'intreccio invisibile e complesso di mille fili narrativi, "The Sandman" è fondamentalmente la storia di una crescita morale, quella di Sogno, il protagonista, che sceglie un percorso forzato con lo scopo di redimersi completamente, viaggiando tra dimensioni più o meno allegoriche, contattando e interagendo con una miriade di personaggi (ed è STRAORDINARIA la caleidoscopia varietà di personalità secondarie che Gaiman crea, arricchendo la storia).
"The Sandman" è soprattutto la prova che il fumetto, o meglio, la "graphic novel" è un'opera d'artee degna della qualità di letteratura. Non a caso un episodio di questa serie di fumetti è riuscito a vincere un premio riservato alle opere letterarie.
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Dec 15, 2009 Thom Foolery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, fantasy, fiction, folklore, history, islam, judaism, mythology, revisioning, surreal, comics, fairy-tales

After reading two fairly profound, novel-length, "comic book" story arcs, I was expecting to that this collection of short stories would be filler, light stuff that Gaiman could crank out while catching his breath, preparing for the next run. Boy, was I wrong.

The first story in this collection, "Three Septembers and a January," brought me to tears as I read it on my lunch break. It tells the story of one Joshua Abraham Norton, the first and only Emperor of the United States, a man whose waking d...more

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Jul 29, 2009 M. Rephun rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves poetry, graphic novels, or good storytelling

Recommended to M. by: Discovered it on my own

This book, Fables and Reflections, is a very solid entry in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. It features a variety of loosely connected stories that revolve around Dream of the Endless, and some of his siblings. Most of these stories are standalone issues: only one, which deals with Dream's relationship with his son Orpheus, plays a role in the larger Sandman saga. However, every one of these stories is infused with a poetic beauty and richness that showcases, if nothing else, Neil Gaiman's amazing...more

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Apr 22, 2009 Mary Overton added it · review of another edition

A collection of stories about fabulous people and places.
From "Soft Places":
"Time at the edge of the dreaming is softer than elsewhere, and here in the soft places it loops and whorls on itself. In the soft places where the border between dreams and reality is eroded, or has not yet formed .... In the soft places, where the geographies of dream intrude upon the real.... There were more of them in the olden days. I remember, when I was just a young vicinity, there were soft places everywhere .......more

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Apr 20, 2013 Shira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 02, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

I wanted to like this more, but was at least pleased I was able to identify both why I didn't, and why I don't think I'm ready to give up on graphic novels just yet. First, as a novice graphic novel reader, I had a lot of trouble with the interface of this collection. There were elaborate and totally beautiful title pages to each of the stories that I could have looked at forever, but their aesthetics weren't matched by the drawings in the stories themselves. In general, the drastically differen...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Neil Gaiman is often at his best when he is writing stories about stories. Where do they come from? Why are they so important to us as a society? That may be why Sandman is still regarded as one of if not his greatest accomplishments. It is obvious how connected Gaiman is to this character, the weaver of stories and creator of visions.

This particular graphic novel in the series contains several stand-alone stories in the realm of the Sandman. The stand alone theme seems to be that of stories an...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Eva Nickelson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic

This volume contains a variety of stand-alone stories. While disconnected, these stories all deal with well-known people or myths, with Gaiman giving them his own Sandman spin. The story of Norton I is my favorite, since it is such a wonderful explanation for his actions. Ramadan is a beautifully drawn story, but I felt as though there was too much back story in words. I also loved the drawings for Abel's story. Those little characters are absolutely adorable, and the switch in voice and story w...more

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May 02, 2009 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As much as I was underwhelmed by some of the earlier short stories in The Sandman collection (from book 3: Dream Country, even though it was award winning), I was thoroughly impressed with Fables and Reflections.

Orpheus's story was epically tragic, and I can't help but hope that he somehow finds peace and happiness. After first being introduced to his severed head, then seeing how he came to be in that situation while trying to win back his bride from the underworld, his character just screams...more As much as I was underwhelmed by some of the earlier short stories in The Sandman collection (from book 3: Dream Country, even though it was award winning), I was thoroughly impressed with Fables and Reflections.

Orpheus's story was epically tragic, and I can't help but hope that he somehow finds peace and happiness. After first being introduced to his severed head, then seeing how he came to be in that situation while trying to win back his bride from the underworld, his character just screams of bad luck. As the son of Dream, one would think that Orpheus would have some way of actualizing his dreams and desires, and at least a modicum of control and power that his father shows over earthly situations. Instead, Orpheus seems to be almost the exact opposite of Dream, and based more in the realm of Despair... which makes me wonder if he'll show up again with his aunt.

The history major in me has to mention Norton I. I have to admit that I had never heard of the man before reading the story, or if I had, I quickly forgot about him. However, Neil Gaiman penned his life in an incredible fashion, and I can understand how the people of San Francisco almost named a bridge after him. It really was a heart-warming story; not just because Norton I was likable, but the reaction of the people around him was so genuine, (and apparently historically accurate after a bit of research).

Lastly, the Ramadan story was absolutely incredible. It came out of left field, but there really was something magical about it, and it reminded me of Disney's Aladdin. I know that there are much greater literary works that I could draw a connection to, but as a child when the movie originally came out, I was spellbound by the Genie, magic carpet, Abu, Jasmine, and Aladdin. The resolution of "Ramadan" also cemented the connection to the Disney film for me, as the treasured Baghdad was being dreamed of by a small child. Is there any coincidence that the movie came out in 1992, and Sandman's "Ramadan" just a few years later? I'd imagine there is. However the story came about, I'm happier having read and experienced it.(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 D.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful and wondrous collection of stories, lacking the continuing arc of most of the series. It may be that which makes me like it so much, since Dream himself becomes a supporting character and occasional impetus rather than the driving force as in much of Sandman. The artists collected in this volume clearly drive the narrative in the way that makes Gaiman such a unique talent in comics, and they are some of the best assembled for the title.
The stories:
'Fear of Falling' with Kent...more This is a wonderful and wondrous collection of stories, lacking the continuing arc of most of the series. It may be that which makes me like it so much, since Dream himself becomes a supporting character and occasional impetus rather than the driving force as in much of Sandman. The artists collected in this volume clearly drive the narrative in the way that makes Gaiman such a unique talent in comics, and they are some of the best assembled for the title.
The stories:
'Fear of Falling' with Kent Williams is a very short piece from outside the series issues, and is a nice concise piece of dream-driven story. Williams is as close as the series ever got to having McKean art inside the covers.
'Three Septembers and a January' with Shawn MacManus (previously of A Game Of You) recalls Mark Twain's Emperor of the United States in a touching and charming story that is both a redemption in madness, and a game played with human life by greater powers.
'Thermidor' with Stan Woch & Dick Giordano visits the French Revolution with Johanna Constantine (previously met in Hob Gadling's tale) and Orpheus' head. I wouldn't know how accurate the history is, but it makes an intriguing political-horror story, in spite of the fairly bland, comicky art (which I blame on Giordano's typically overwhelming inks).
'The Hunt' with Duncan Eagleson & Vince Locke is a love story (of sorts) with...werewolves? Maybe. Anyway, the curious The People are a fun new view of what is clearly some sort of Eastern European monster race who live like gypsies...or woodsmen...or something. A truly charming story where Dream's presence is practically incidental, and the art is perfectly married to the tale. And Baba Yaga has a cameo!
'August' with Bryan Talbot & Stan Woch is one of my favourites in the book. I don't know why, as I don't really have any interest in Imperial Rome or Augustus Caesar, but it's a good solid story told in Gaiman's usual brilliant way.
'Soft Places' with John Watkiss is an entertaining story of young Marco Polo, who looks surprisingly like Prince Valiant here at times. Some nice asides into history, and an appearance from Fiddler's Green (last seen in The Doll's House) round it out.
'Orpheus' with Bryan Talbot & Mark Buckingham (which looks as unlike either of them as the teaming would suggest) finally fills in all the blanks on Dream's son with Calliope. It's a clever weaving of the comic's story with Greek mythology, though I find it lacks the emotional core it sorely deserves.
'The Parliament of Rooks' with Jill Thompson & Vince Locke shows these two at their best, as they illustrate a storytelling session with Cain, Abel, Eve, Matthew & the Hall boy Daniel (and the gargoyles, of course). It's a charming little piece that highlights the histories of the House-holders, while collecting a few shorter stories for our entertainment.
'Ramadan' with P. Craig Russell (and Digital Chameleon colours) is, for my money, nothing short of an absolute wonder. Russell's art is perfect here, illuminating a story of Baghdad & Haroun al-Raschid in the spirit of the Thousand Nights & One Night (or at least Arabian Nights). Every page is a mental feast, from the visuals to the narrative and everything in between. It would, I think, be very hard not to love this issue.
Overall, the best collection of individual stories in the series (just above Dream Country, and quite a bit past World's End).(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Aliza rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of my favorites (so far)! The stories about the French revolution (with Lady Constantine) and the Russian one about the hunt were amazing, though "Ramadan" -- the one in Baghdad -- was the most beautifully drawn. There were some really interesting themes running through these nine stories. The main thing that stood out to me was time: an obsession with the way it passes (or doesn't, as may be the case for Orpheus); the way events are viewed differently while they are happening and then in re...more One of my favorites (so far)! The stories about the French revolution (with Lady Constantine) and the Russian one about the hunt were amazing, though "Ramadan" -- the one in Baghdad -- was the most beautifully drawn. There were some really interesting themes running through these nine stories. The main thing that stood out to me was time: an obsession with the way it passes (or doesn't, as may be the case for Orpheus); the way events are viewed differently while they are happening and then in retrospect (Adam's wives, told from Eve's perspective); the effect that passage of time can have even on something at the height of its power (Baghdad then and now); how time can make a man wise enough to make a difficult choice (Caius and Rome). This was reflected in the way that many of the stories had the names of months for titles (even Ramadan, which is a month in the Muslim calendar, and August, which meant both the name and the month).

Leadership also plays a factor here, like how so many of these stories about leaders worried about their legacies: whether the cities they built will live on or die, will become legend or myth or be forgotten. And the results varied. The star of ancient Rome faded, but because Augustus made the right choices, his legacy his safe. Baghdad was at the height of its glory with Al-Rachid but he chose to preserve his city in dreams instead of in reality and paid the price.

The other note running throughout the stories was the idea of bargaining: Orpheus for Eurydice, Al-Rachid for his city, Dream for his son's head, Vassily for the duke's daughter (or the book in his bag, depending on how you look at it), Despair with her siblings for a contest over a man's life. That idea might not mean much on its own, but in all the Sandman stories there has been a premium placed on the value of things being not gold, but only the intrinsic worth that another being is willing to exchange for that thing. And whether payment is a inspiration in the form of a story, or a lover's life, the idea is that the only things you own that are worth anything are the things from which you are least willing to be parted. (less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Paul Hamilton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, graphic-novel

Like Dream Country, this volume of The Sandman is a collection of one-shot stories that don't always feature Dream very much. Which is okay, since Neil Gaiman is a terrific storyteller, but is also kind of a letdown considering first of all how good the slimmer volume of shorts was, especially compared to this. It's noteworthy perhaps that even in these "side-stories" there are hints and allusions or outright references to other bits of the story already told or (most likely) that will come to p...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This episode of the Sandman series is another short story book. We learn a lot more about Dream's son Orpheus and also about the exploits of Marco Polo as he explored the Soft Places when he was young. I particularly liked the grandfather's story from the Old Country, and also how different dream adults would keep a baby amused. I did not find the Augustus Caesar story so compelling and the re-telling of the Orpheus story (although it does have a nice twist at the end) felt like a bit of a cop o...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Anthony Chavez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel-manga

Being the sixth volume in the Sandman series, "Reflections and Fables" takes a different twist than readers are accustomed to - a volume entirely of the past. There are nine stories in the volume, each relating to the Sandman universe in its own way, yet each remarkably different and unique in their own way (minus the Orpheus volumes).

The opening chapter, Fear of Falling, really a prologue, is in itself wonderfully written and in only a few pages it packs a powerful message. Other notable chapte...more Being the sixth volume in the Sandman series, "Reflections and Fables" takes a different twist than readers are accustomed to - a volume entirely of the past. There are nine stories in the volume, each relating to the Sandman universe in its own way, yet each remarkably different and unique in their own way (minus the Orpheus volumes).

The opening chapter, Fear of Falling, really a prologue, is in itself wonderfully written and in only a few pages it packs a powerful message. Other notable chapters include Ramadan, August, Parliament of Rooks, Three Septembers and a January, and The Hunt.

Gaiman's short stories are always well written, you can tell Gaiman does his historical homework. He always weaves Dream into that tale splendidly, and he touches on myth, fable, and legend that most readers might know a little about, or have heard about somewhere, and expand and teach the readersomething; moreover, the deviation from a direct story line in this collection may appeal to some readers, as it did me, but then again it may not to all. Gaiman enriches the universe and the power of Dream, without using Dream as a main character, as he has done before in volumes like "Dream Country." Some readers will enjoy this aspect, and perhaps enjoy the historical aspect of the stories; whereas, others may wish to stay on track with the Dream as the main character. I am not the latter, I love these short stories, and how Gaiman weaved Dream into them in very clever ways.

Regardless, Fables and Reflections is a volume that should not be missed, and is one of the better Sandman volumes so far. Excellent work by Gaiman. I also thought the art was great in this volume, maybe the best so far, it was nice to see Dream's brother Destruction for once instead of just hearing about him and to get some background for the Calliope story that was in a previous volume. I also loved the chibi Death and Dream in "The Parliament of Rooks," and I'm always fascinated by how different artists represent Dream and his family.(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was another excellent volume in the Sandman series. Instead of being one long story this book consists of multiple stories; each story illustrated by a different artist. The stories are what the title suggests; fables and reflections.

The stories touch on familiar fables and myths. Everything from Faust to Eurydice. This book was particularly interesting since more of Morpheus's family shows up. You get to meet a number of his siblings; his sister Death in particular makes a number of appear...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: strange-worlds, reading-graphically

I really like how, after the intense story of The Sandman, Vol. 5: A Game of You, this volume is a short-story collection that moves backwards and forwards in time to add to the mythology of Gaiman's Morpheus.

I loved "Three Septembers and a January" and the last three stories "Orpheus", "The Parliament of Rooks", and "Ramadan" (beautifully drawn and lettered). It was also interesting to see the art styles shift with the different artists used for each story.

I wasn't sure if this was the original...more

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May 17, 2011 Fox rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, graphic-novel, horror, mars-book, series, 2011

Do you remember those days when you were young, singing in front of the campfire, listening to the stories those around you had to tell? Maybe a parent, maybe a grandparent or a sibling - but whoever it was who told the stories, they told them magnificently. You could close your eyes and see the past, not as it was, but as it should have been. You hung upon every word, and by the time the tale was over, for a day, two days, a week or more the images - the feelings - they stuck with you. They may...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Sara marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: comics

This one contains some of my favorite art of the series so far, but probably not my favorite stories. (I did really enjoy "Ramadan" however!!) The art towards the end of the volume was just lovely! Nice and neat and clean and colorful! I can't neglect to mention the fact that we get to see Dream and Death in chibi form thanks to sweet Abel's storytelling skills. That was soo→ cute! I loved it. I wasn't a big fan of the whole Orpheus story, however. I didn't like anything about it really. Dream w...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Poonam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fun book surrounding dreams of several interesting characters and legends. Collection of Fables. Very nice introductory comic about a budding playwright and his dream.

Story of Orpheus (son of Morpheus and Calliope) and Eurydice. I loved the fact we have read about Calliope before. Aristaeus. (My favorite story was this one.)
Lady Johanna Constantine (a previous character. Mark Twain is another character in the story.
Caius Augustus, Emperor Augustus. Suggestion that Julius Caesar raped Augustus w...more

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“Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.” — 4,122 people liked it

“You attend the funeral, you bid the dead farewell. You grieve. Then you continue with your life. And at times the fact of her absence will hit you like a blow to the chest, and you will weep. But this will happen less and less as time goes on. She is dead. You are alive. So live.” — 71 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25106.The_Sandman_Vol_6?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311961999l/25106.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25106.The_Sandman_Vol_6?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman[/url]

The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections (The Sandman #6)

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